It’s not clear yet if prosecutors will, for a third time, seek a new indictment from the grand jury on the felony charges. Or it could proceed to trial on the misdemeanor charges.
Fisheries
Southeast Alaska fishermen illegally caught $35,000 worth of sea cucumbers, troopers say
The trio of men from Naukati Bay, Prince of Wales Island, face criminal charges after pilfering nearly four tons of sea cucumbers from a Whale Pass scientific preserve that’s been off limits to fishing for decades, Alaska Wildlife Troopers say.
Sea otter resolution gets first hearing in Senate committee
A Senate committee heard Monday from supporters and opponents of state involvement in the management of sea otters in Southeast Alaska.
Alaska Senate bill looks to address ‘graying of the fleet’
A new bill working its way through the Alaska Senate would address the state-wide issue of the graying of the fleet.
Southeast tribes broaden transboundary alliance
More than 30 representatives met recently at the Tulalip Indian Reservation, between Seattle and Vancouver, British Columbia.
Trump tariffs could jack up boat prices
The general manager of Bay Weld Boats in Homer says he’s seen in some cases 50 to 60 percent increases the purchasing prices of aluminum as aluminum users stocked up ahead of the tariff announcement.
Governor calls for federal disaster declaration for Pacific cod fishery
A disaster declaration could make the fishery eligible for federal relief funds, although who specifically would receive money would be figured out later.
Fishing boats ‘going dark’ raise suspicion of illegal catches, report says
A new report by the international conservation group Oceana highlights several incidents of fishing vessels switching off their Automatic Identification System beacons in no-take fishing areas.
NOAA rule sets dates for 2018 halibut season
The 2018 halibut season will open March 24 and close Nov. 7. Quotas from 2017 remain in place, but that that’s likely to change.
Fishermen’s network creates map of ocean floor to reduce bycatch
The Alaska Longline Fishermen’s Association collected 140 million data points of sea floor data from its members and reconciled it with federal and state maps. The goal is to make Sitka’s small boat fleet more competitive and efficient.